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    Violet webcaps

    Cortinarius spec. Pers. · Cortinariaceae

    ☠ Poisonous

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    Identification in 5 steps

    Violet webcaps
    Photo: Bernypisa · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

    Violet-tinged webcaps of the genus Cortinarius are hard to identify. Some contain deadly kidney toxins, others irritate the stomach. Do not mistake them for edible violet gilled mushrooms.

    SeasonAugust to October
    Spore printrust brown
    FamilyCortinariaceae
    1. Cap. The cap is 3 to 10 cm wide, violet, violet-brown or with violet scales, often with a moist sheen.
    2. Underside. The gills are often violet when young, later rust brown; the spore print is rust brown.
    3. Stem, ring and volva. A fine, cortina-like veil remnant often hangs on the stem; there is no volva.
    4. Smell and taste. The smell is faint to unpleasant. Never taste it.
    5. Flesh and colour change. The flesh is often violet and does not change colour, or turns brownish.

    Lookalikes

    Violet-tinged webcaps are often mistaken for the edible wood blewit or the amethyst deceiver; many Cortinarius species are poisonous.

    Side by side

    Violet webcapsFool's webcapWood blewitSordid blewitAmethyst deceiver
    Capviolet to violet-brownorange brown, bumpviolet to brownviolet, funnel-shapedamethyst violet, 2 to 6 cm
    Undersideviolet, then rust brownochre to rust brownnotched gillsviolet-tinged gillsviolet-tinged gills
    Stemveil remnants on the stemveil remnants yellowfleshyslenderthin, glossy
    Fleshrust-brown spore printslenderpleasantfirmfragile
    EdibilityPoisonousdeadly poisonousedibleedibleedible

    Habitat & Season

    Humus-rich forest soils. Lowlands to mountain forest.

    Host trees

    Deciduous and coniferous trees, mycorrhizal.

    Season

    possible good main season

    Autumn in deciduous and coniferous woods.

    Mushroom regions with a daily forecast

    There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.

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    Safety

    Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Poisonous mushroom: do not eat it. If you suspect someone has eaten it, call the emergency number and the poison centre immediately.

    Advice for your country

    United Kingdom

    Poison centre:

    NHS 111 (England)111

    Emergency: 999 · 112

    Ireland

    Poison centre:

    National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166

    Emergency: 112 · 999

    Germany

    Poison centre:

    Giftnotruf Berlin030 19240Giftinformationszentrum München089 19240GIZ-Nord Göttingen0551 19240

    Emergency: 112

    Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).

    Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.

    Austria

    Poison centre:

    Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43

    Emergency: 112 · 144

    Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.

    Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.

    Conservation and collecting rules

    Not specially protected.

    Salzburg: Collecting poisonous mushrooms is banned, except single specimens for identification.

    Poisoning

    ToxinOrellanine in some species, otherwise gastrointestinal irritants.
    SyndromeOrellanus syndrome or gastrointestinal syndrome.
    SymptomsWith orellanine: delayed kidney failure. Otherwise nausea and diarrhoea.
    OnsetOrellanine: 2 days to 3 weeks; gastrointestinal a few hours.
    What to do now: This is an emergency, even if there are no symptoms yet. Go to a hospital immediately or call 999 / 112 and the poison centre (NHS 111, England). Do not wait to see whether symptoms appear, and do not be misled by an apparent improvement. Do not induce vomiting. Keep leftover mushrooms, cleaning scraps and vomit, and tell everyone who shared the meal.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are all violet mushrooms poisonous?

    No, but violet webcaps are unsafe. Check for a rust-brown spore print and veil remnants on the stem.

    How does it differ from the wood blewit?

    The wood blewit has a pink spore print and brownish milky juice; webcaps have a rust-brown print.

    What should I do if I have eaten it?

    Call the emergency number and the poison centre immediately, even without symptoms.

    Related species

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    Sources

    Photo credits

    No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.

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